Longines Watches: a short history
Longines is a Swiss watchmaker based at St Imier. Established in 1832 they are now part of the Swatch Group. Here is a short history of the Longines company.
Longines is a Swiss watchmaker based at St Imier. Established in 1832 they are now part of the Swatch Group.
In 1832 Auguste Agassiz started a Agassiz & compangnie with a partnership between himself and another company in Saint-Imier. By the 1850’s Auguste’s nephew Ernest Francillon took over the management of the company.
Breaking with Tradition
In the mid 19th century watch making was typically a home-based business and the watchmaker has some kind of agent (called a comptoir) who would sell their timepieces on the world market. Longines worked as an établisseur in which the company does not manufacture parts themselves but assembles watches from parts purchased from specialist suppliers. It then established trade links around the world, especially with North America.
Ernest believed it would be more efficient to bring the manufacturing inside a single factory where mechanical production methods could be used to assemble and finish the watch. The factory was located on the banks of the river Suzze in the Saint-Imier valley in 1866, an area known as Les Longines. The enterprise was stunningly successful and by 1911 had more than 1100 employees.
The logo of a winged hourglass has been in use since 1867 and became a well known symbol at sporting events such as gymnastics, horse jumping, skating, tennis and skiing. The quality of Longines time measurement was sought after for world-class sporting events events such as the Olympics (since1892) and Formula One motor racing, and it still is today. Many Baseball stadiums had Longines scoreboard analogue clocks.
The company won many awards for innovation and in 1970 produced the world’s first consumer LCD watch. Over the next decade they reduced the watch to less than 1mm thick.
In the 1980’s, Longines became part of the Swatch Group. In 2012 they celebrated 180 years in business, which is no mean achievement. In that time they have produced more than 30 million watches.
eBay USA
On eBay UK: | LONGINES HYDROCONQUEST L3.640.3 BLACK TWO TONE SWISS WATCH WITH BOX AND PAPER £ 500.00 |
 | Genuine longines vintage 1967 mens watch, manual wind gold in great condition £ 250.00 |
 | Beautiful Longines La Grande Classique L42092 Two Tone Watch 24mm £ 235.00 |
 | Rare Vintage Gold Plated Longines Mercedes Quartz Watch £ 95.00 |
 | GORGEOUS!! LONGINES HERITAGE 1945 40MM WATCH L2.813.4.66 - FULL BOX & PAPERS £ 972.00 |
 | Longines Legend Diver L37744702 £ 1,095.00 |
 | Longines L5.655.4 Dolce Vita Watch Second Hand Quartz Black Dial 26mm £ 275.00 |
 | Genuine Longines Watch Box with Outer * FREE P&P * £ 23.99 |
 | Longines HydroConquest Sunray Blue Men's Watch - L3.781.4.96.9 £ 945.00 |
 | Longines Admiral Black Dial Watch - L3.602.4 £ 995.00 |
 | Womens Ladies Longines Les Grandes Classiques L5.132.3 Watch - Quartz £ 250.00 |
 | Longines Ladies Quartz Watch Leather Strap 21899193 £ 85.00 |
 | Longines Spirit Zulu Time - L3.812.4.63.6 - 42 mm - Grey Dial and Green Bezel £ 1,800.00 |
 | Longines Dolce Vita Ladies Watch - L5.155.4 - great condition! £ 280.00 |
 | Longines Ladies Diamond Watch £ 350.00 |
 | Longines Flagship Automatic Watch £ 450.00 |
 | Womens Longines 150th Anniversary Gold Tone Dress Watch Quartz SPARES/REPAIRS £ 349.99 |
 | longines mini dolce vita £ 355.00 |
 | Longines Mens Spirit Watch Blue 40 mm Dial & Blue Leather Strap L3.810.4.93.0 £ 1,200.00 |
 | LONGINES Men's Conquest Automatic (39mm) Sunray Blue Dial Ref: L3.776.4.99.6 £ 780.00 |
 | Longines Conquest automatic ladies watch 30mm Dial £ 325.00 |
 | Longines Ultra Chron White Brushed Dial Chronometer 34mm £ 495.00 |
 | Longines VHP Quartz GMT Dual Time 41mm Watch £ 550.00 |
 | Longines Conquest VHP Quartz Watch 36mm High Accuracy £ 400.00 |
 | Longines Ladies Quartz Wrist Watch Date Gold Plated 24mm NEW BATTERY £ 125.00 |
 | Longines L3.644.4 Hydroconquest Chronograph Navy £ 575.00 |
 | Longines Ladies Dolce Vita Watch £ 450.00 |
 | Longine La Grande Classique ladies watch - gold bracelet, gilt face £ 495.00 |
 | Genuine Longines Watch Box with Blue Outer * FREE P&P * £ 24.99 |
 | Ladies longines dolce vita Mini Wristwatch & Warranty Card 'please Read Advert' £ 90.00 |
 | Longines Heritage 1945 L2.813.4.660 2019 Automatic 40mm Full Set £ 975.00 |
 | Gold Longines Classic Tongue Buckle Leather Watch Strap Band Clasp 18mm 20mm £ 9.99 |
 | Longines Opposition Black Dial L3 617 4 Swiss Quartz Stainless £ 225.00 |
 | Longines Hydroconquest Automatic Black Dial Green Bezel RRP £1700 £ 900.00 |
 | Longines Flagship Heritage L4.795.4.78.2 Automatic Silver 38.5mm (RRP £1,700) £ 849.00 |
 | Longines L4.722.4 V.H.P Perpetual Calendar Grand Classic Men's Watch £ 280.00 |
 | LONGINES WW2 RAF WRISTWATCH (6B/159) 1943 £ 1,250.00 |
 | LONGINES Black & Silver Tone Conquest Watch £ 1,050.00 |
 | longines automatic Cal 22A mens watch £ 120.00 |
 | Wittnauer /Longines. Watch 10ct Rg White Gold. Serviced.1 Year Gaurentee Written £ 175.00 |
